Aoi Aki: Tsumasaki ni Kourozu

This is a volume of quiet moments. It is such to the point that it could be considered soothing. Everything has room to breathe and the environments and stills are beautiful.

There’s a very subtle sensuality going through the main story. I felt myself blush and my heart swell and race ever so gently. The last two stories are enjoyable as well. The second story, “A Fish’s Warmth,” is kind of like the film Happy Accidents; you’re enjoying it as it goes along, but you don’t really know what’s going on until it tells you. Aoi was able to lead readers on in pretty much the same way with her 6-page oneshot, Hyakuyou Daichou. It’s as if she writes in whispers and she keeps repeating the words to you until your mind is clear enough to hear the words without her ever needing to raise her voice.